I’m still around and I still have a passion for craft beer. In fact, I haven’t been writing anything here because of what that passion has turned in to, but more on that later. (Please excuse the mess and the old content around here for now.)

I needed to take a bit of time and voice my opinion on a bill that was recently introduced in the California Assembly “AB-2172 Homebrewery clubs: meetings“ and why I’m opposed to it as written.

Today, the California State Senate passed resolution SCR 66 which declares February as “California Craft Beer Month”. When I say “today” I mean February 23, 2012; so enjoy your 6 remaining days of California Craft Beer Month.

While it may seem like a small thing considering that the resolution was passed so late in the month, the resolution does an excellent job of documenting and pointing out the significant impact to the Craft Beer industry that have taken place in California.

The second largest craft brewer in the country (Sierra Nevada Brewing Company) was founded in Chico, CA in 1979 and kicked-off a nationwide movement

Three of the country’s first five brewpubs were opened in California — 2nd: (1983) Mendocino Brewery in Hopland, 3rd: (1984) Buffalo Bill’s in Hayward, 5th: (1986) Triple Rock Brewery in Berkeley — after AB3610 removed the restriction on on-premises sales of craft beer in 1977

The craft beer industry creates over 17,000 jobs in the state

The California craft beer industry creates more revenue for the state and federal governments than ANY OTHER industry!!

There are more breweries in California than in any other state

California craft breweries are known internationally for the quality of their beer

California craft brewers win more medals annually at beer competitions than brewers in other states

The craft beer industry is strongly committed in its implementation of sustainable practices

The industry is a leader in the stewardship of natural resources and California’s environment

It’s great the state legislature has recognized the outstanding contributions that craft brewers in California have made; not just to the industry but to the State as a whole. Thank you legislatures. Now lets go grab a California Craft Beer!!

BILL NUMBER: SCR 66 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE FEBRUARY 21, 2012
INTRODUCED BY Senator Corbett
( Principal coauthor: Senator La Malfa ) ( Coauthor: Senator Evans )
FEBRUARY 16, 2012
Relative to California Craft Brewery Month.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 66, as amended, Corbett. California Craft Brewery Month.
This measure would proclaim the month of February 2012 as
California Craft Brewery Month.
Fiscal committee: no.
WHEREAS, California is the birthplace of the craft brewing
movement, when Fritz Maytag acquired the Anchor Brewing Company in
1965 and began brewing authentic , handcrafted
beers; and
WHEREAS, California is the home of the first microbrewery,
beginning with Jack McAuliffe who built a small brewery in Sonoma
from scratch, and began selling New Albion ales in 1977; and
WHEREAS, The second largest craft brewer in the country, Sierra
Nevada Brewing Company, was founded in Chico, California, in 1979,
and spurred the craft brewery movement around the country; and
WHEREAS, In 1977, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 3610
to amend the state's tied-house laws to remove the restriction on
on-premises sales of craft beer. Following this change in law,
California became home to three of the first five brewpubs in
America; and
WHEREAS, The second brewpub in America was opened by the Mendocino
Brewery in Hopland, California; the third brewpub, opened in
September 1984, was Buffalo Bill's in Hayward, California; and the
fifth, opened by John Martin in March 1986, was Triple Rock Brewery
in Berkeley, California; and
WHEREAS, The California craft brewery industry has an annual
impact of $500 million on the state's economy in direct wages and
benefits; and
WHEREAS, The California craft brewery industry creates more than
17,000 jobs, which in turn creates billions of dollars in positive
economic impact; and
WHEREAS, The California craft brewery industry creates more
revenue for the state and federal governments than many other
industries, generating more than $36 million in taxes in 2010; and
WHEREAS, California now has more breweries than any other state in
the country, including over 280 small, independently owned craft
breweries; and
WHEREAS, California is now known and recognized internationally
for the quality of its craft breweries. Year after year, Californian
breweries win more medals at the World Beer Cup, the largest
international beer competition in the world, and the Great American
Beer Festival, the largest beer competition in the United States,
than breweries found in other states; and
WHEREAS, Brewery tourism is increasingly popular and contributes
to the economic impact of the state's tourism industry; and
WHEREAS, The California craft brewery industry is a leader in the
stewardship of natural resources and the environment , and has made a major commitment to implement sustainable
practices that are environmentally sound, including some of the
largest solar arrays in the private sector, and the use of fuel cells
and other innovative conservation techniques and processes; and
WHEREAS, Despite the challenges of intense global competition, the
state's craft brewery industry is strong and growing, and is a major
contributor to the economic vitality of California; now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the month
of February 2012 as California Craft Brewery Month; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

Along with my friends Mike and Jason, we’ve been planning to take a day to venture into Los Angeles (about 40 miles from our homes in Ventura County) and explore some craft beer pubs/alehouses/breweries. We’re heading out on Thursday, December 15th, and while I thought that making an itinerary would be easy, the fact that most of my planned destinations don’t open until 4:00 pm or later, making the agenda has been a little rough. But, I think I’ve got the order down. Follow me on Twitter (@TheBeerdolt) during the 15th and if you’re near where we’re at, have a pint with us!

Lucky Baldwins in Pasadena
If we get going early enough, we plan to get to Lucky Baldwins by 11:00 so that we can have some breakfast there. (Our backup plan is to hit Brent’s Deli for breakfast instead.)

Tony’s Darts Away in Burbank
Tony’s opens up at Noon, so it makes sense to be our next stop.

Ideally we’ll get to them all! My hope is that we finish at Library Alehouse, even if we have to skip a couple of others in order for my companions to make it home on time. I’m also planning that we’ll be having a meal at either Mohawk Bend or Blue Palms. No matter what though, I’m hoping that all three of us get to sample some really good craft beers!

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
In Finding Joy in a Cancelled Event I shared how my friend Mike and I had a great time discovering little out of the way places with great craft beer; specifically that day we found Mohawk Bend and Tony’s Darts Away. While that day’s journey was by happenstance, we’re doing a planned trip to head into the greater Los Angeles area and discover more great places with more great craft beer on Thursday, December 15th. The problem is: I don’t know all the choices and they’re looking to me to map out the day. This is where I need your help.

Take a moment to post a comment below and let me know of a place you’d recommend in the Los Angeles (or surrounding) area. It doesn’t need to be a brewery, or restaurant, and doesn’t need to be open for breakfast/lunch, but if you know the hours and/or the website of the place you like please include it.

Once I get the day’s itinerary all planned out I’ll post it here and maybe you can come Drink With Darryl! (that’s me btw)

Bottle Bombs. I had heard of them, but I hadn’t actually ever spoken to someone that had experienced the batch-ruining — and as I found out, potentially life threatening — event first hand. A few people I have gotten to speak with and several articles online gave second-hand accounts, but the closest anyone I had spoken had come to the experience was a clogged bubbler/airlock causing the lid to pop of a bucket or the airlock to pop out of a carboy; a condition that left most of the beer and it’s containment vessel fully in tact. With a bottle bomb, you’re not as lucky. CONTINUE READING THE FULL POST

Yesterday, August 4, 2011 was the first international IPA Day. I’m fairly certain that the United Nations weren’t involved in passing any kind of resolution to enact a holiday, and I suspect it’s not going to show up on the puppy/kitten calendar that you’re gonna buy at the mall in October. This “holiday” was inspired by similar events in the wine world and brought into our world of beer by The Beer Wench (@TheBeerWench) & Ryan Ross (@RyanARoss). After you’re done reading about how I celebrated observed the holiday, you can pop over to The Wench’s blog and read about how the idea came about at bit.ly/ipaday_info. CONTINUE READING THE FULL POST

I thought this would be a simple question, but the answers I haven’t found a clear and concise answer anywhere. I need to know! The answer will affect the outcome of another post I’ve been hung up on writing for a bit. That question is:

WHAT'S A GROWLER?A reusable glass jug used at a pub/brewery/restaurant...

A) ...to allow a customer to transport beer home.

B) ...to allow a customer to keep a large quantity at their table for use while at the establishment, like a pitcher.

It doesn’t get much better than when you get to hang out around the lake on a sunny Southern California day, listening to live music, and tasting your way through over 75 different beers.

Fortunately for me, that’s exactly what I got to do at the Orange County Beer Festival at Irvine Lake in Silverado, CA this past Saturday as an early kick-off to American Craft Beer Week. CONTINUE READING THE FULL POST